The Java **`compareTo()` method** compares the given string *lexicographically* (an order similar to the one used in a dictionary) with the current string on the basis of the Unicode value of each character in the strings.
This method returns an integer upon its implementation. 

The Java lexicographic order is as follows:
1. Numbers 
2. Uppercase 
3. Lowercase


There are three cases when the `compareTo()` method is used.



# Case 1: Both strings are lexicographically equivalent
The method returns $0$ if the two strings are equivalent:


class MyClass {
    public static void main( String args[] ) {
      String str1="abcd";
      String str2="abcd";
      System.out.println(str1.compareTo(str2));
    }
}

# Case 2: String calling method is lexicographically first 
The method returns a *negative number* when the string calling the method lexicographically comes first: 

class MyClass {
    public static void main( String args[] ) {
      String str1="abCd";
      String str2="abcd";
      System.out.println(str1.compareTo(str2));
    }
}

# Case 3: Parameter passed in the method comes lexicographically first
The method returns a *positive number* when the parameter passed in the method lexicographically comes  first: 

class MyClass {
    public static void main( String args[] ) {
      String str1="abcd";
      String str2="abCd";
      System.out.println(str1.compareTo(str2));
    }
}

This number represents the difference between the Unicode values of the string passed as the input parameter (`str2`) and the string (`str1`) calling the method.


**result**= Unicode of str1 - Unicode of str2

How to compare strings using the compareTo() method in Java

The Java compareTo() method compares the given string lexicographically (an order similar to the one used in a dictionary) with the current string on the basis of the Unicode value of each character in the strings. This method returns an integer upon its implementation. The Java lexicographic order is as follows:  Numbers Uppercase Lowercase  There are three cases when the compareTo() method is used. 